Rupert Murdoch is preparing to step down as chief executive of his global
media and entertainment empire 21st Century Fox and hand the role over to
his youngest son James.

Murdoch is expected to continue as executive chairman of the company with
his eldest son Lachlan Murdoch becoming an executive co-chairman.

The restructuring marks the first time the three Murdochs will run the
global film and television business without a layer of senior management
outside the family.

The appointments will not necessarily clarify which of Murdoch’s sons
eventually takes over the running of the global media business although the
84-year-old’s decision to stand down as chief executive suggests that the
issue of succession has become more pressing.

A spokeswoman for 21st Century Fox said: “The matter of succession is on
the agenda at our upcoming, regularly scheduled board meeting.” The next
meeting is due next week.

21st Century Fox employs more than 25,000 people around the world, spanning
the Fox TV channels, movie studio 20th Century Fox and a 39% stake in
pay-TV business Sky.

the is separate from Murdoch’s publishing empire News Corp, home to the
Sun, the Times and the Sunday Times in the UK and the Wall Street Journal
in the US, which was split from his entertainment business two years ago.
Murdoch stepped down as chief executive of that business in 2012 but
remains as executive chairman.

The news comes as the 84-year-old has become increasingly detached from the
entertainment empire to focus on his newspaper assets at News Corp despite
the fact that the former provides the lion’s share of group revenues.

As a result of the changes, Chase Carey will stand down from the business
but the veteran television executive is expected to remain as an adviser at
the company.

The departure of Carey marks the first time the company has been managed
without a layer of senior management outside the family for the first time.

For many years that role was filled ably by Peter Chernin, who departed as
News Corp.’s COO in 2009 and was succeeded by Carey, who is widely lauded
by shareholders for his management of the company’s cable networks.

Shares in Fox A shares fell 1% or 28c to $32.67 immediately after the news.